Dartmoor Gliding News-Sunday 5th June 2016

What a delight! A light easterly that (almost inevitably, given our proximity to the south coast) became a southerly as the day went on. Moderate to good conditions for the solo pilots (hours of soaring under soft ballooons of lift) and benign enough for trainees to undergo launch failure training without incurring too much, if any, delay to the day's launch rate.

Mount Kelly College’s Headmaster Mark Semmence flew with Pete Howarth.

We flew five introductory visitors today (most of whom had bought Two Flight Vouchers) – most notably the new Headmaster of Mount Kelly College Mark Semmence, plus Angela Payne, Roger Doyle, Steve Green and Anita Payne (no relation).

Both Angela Payne, from Roborough, and her partner Terry Doyle, flew with us today.

Visitor Roger Doyle was our second IFP of the day.

Steve Green flew with IFP Pete Howarth.

Anita Payne who, having experienced the ‘delights’ of powered flying at Bodmin,
much preferred the tranquility of Brentor...

Pete Harvey consolidated his conversion on site with his Std Cirrus (see photo) and Roger Appleboom stretched his K-6CR's legs as far as Meldon Reservoir (see photo). Roger's opinion was that the legs could have been stretched (ie. much) a little longer on regaining sight of the airfield but fortunately he managed to make it back...

Pete Harvey taking up slack in his new to site Standard Cirrus.

Roger Appleboom’s view of Meldon Reservoir on the outbound
(ie. away from the airfield) leg of his flight.

Others enjoying the conditions included Leith Whittington (Dart 17R), Barry Green,Paula Howarth and Allan Holland in the club K-8. Among the trainees, Dave Downton ticked some big 'cable break' boxes whilst Ed Borlase refined his speed keeping skills and Jeff Cragg revisited his thermalling technique (the one that goes from positioning yourself underneath Allan Holland and takes you from 950-900ft).

Thanks go to Heather Horsewill for driving retrieve, and to those who helped make our visitors welcome and enjoy their flights. 36 launches. At the end of the day Richard Roberts returned from this weekend's ICL, about which there is a separate tale to tell....

Martin Cropper